Can a foreigner work as a truck driver in Canada?

With Canada facing a severe labor shortage, now is the perfect time to start anew as a truck driver in Canada. Whether you have previous truck driving experience, or you have a good driver's license and are looking for a job that pays well while travelling, Canada is helping to make this step possible for many foreign nationals. Labor surveys and experts have expressed that thousands of jobs are open for truck drivers, affecting the country's supply chain. Some provinces like Manitoba have 5,000 vacancies for transport truck drivers and are urgently giving suitable candidates an opportunity to immigrate to fill these jobs. Truck drivers are just one category out of 1 million job openings nationwide.

Requirements for truck drivers in Canada
Transport Truck Driver - NOC 7511 (soon to be 73300)

Because truck driver requirements can vary by province, employer, or position, standard national requirements include:

- On-the-job training, which is usually offered
- It may be necessary to complete recognized driver training lasting up to three months at a vocational school or adult education center
- A category 3 or D driver's license is required to drive straight-body trucks
- Driving long combinations requires a Class 1 or A driving license
- The Air Brake License (Z) is required for drivers driving vehicles equipped with air brakes
- Dangerous Goods Transport (TDG) certification is required for drivers transporting dangerous products or dangerous goods
- Additional authorization or certification may be required to drive articulated lorries

Benefits of being a truck driver in Canada

There are a few benefits worth highlighting in becoming a truck driver in Canada. These benefits include:

- Good salary – The average salary for a truck driver in Canada is $46,000 per year, which is considered a good salary for an entry-level job with the possibility of raises.
- Insurance – Depending on your employer, you may be able to get additional insurance coverage.
- Paid Vacation - Taking time off without affecting your pay is always a plus!
- Job Security – Truck drivers are in high demand and will be for a while. So if you've secured a job and do it right, you're not going anywhere!
- Travel while working – Many enjoy sightseeing so you can drive across the country while working to travel and get paid at the same time!

How to Immigrate to Canada as a Truck Driver

Express entry
Express Entry is Canada's largest and most popular immigration route for all types of skilled workers seeking Canada PR. The Express Entry Pool ranks candidates who may be eligible for Canadian PR based on a number of factors including age, work experience, education, language skills and more. IRCC will proactively assess, recruit and select candidates who meet the right criteria under 3 different economic programs including:

The federal skilled worker program
The federal handicraft program and The Canadian Experience Class As of 2022, applying via Express Entry as a truck driver is new due to the update to NOC codes announced in 2021. It has been announced that these new eligible NOC codes will be implemented by the end of 2022.

New professions with express access in 2022
Change of NOC codes in 2022

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Provincial nominee programs, often referred to as PNPs, are technically a fork of Express Entry as these applications are typically managed and processed in the same system. Applying for a PNP nomination means you are entering a designated pool where that province or territory can nominate you and Canada can grant you PR to fill their specific labor shortage. This is the perfect path for any foreign professionals who have an idea of ​​which province or area they would like to settle in. This simple decision can really get you ahead in the immigration process, as it's usually quicker and earns you an extra 600 points toward your Express Entry CRS Score.

Temporary Residence Permit for Foreign Workers (TFWP)
Obtaining a Temporary Foreign Work Permit (TFWP) gives you a temporary status but also gives you the opportunity to gain Canada PR in the future. The LMIA process is best for those who can walk side by side with a potential employer in Canada. In the perfect TFWP scenario, you connect to an employer through an online job search and interview process, that employer is either already LMIA certified or is willing to become LMIA certified, and then they petition you for the work permit. Once you’ve gained enough Canadian work experience, there’s a great chance you are eligible for the Canadian Experience Class to gain Canada PR.


About the Author

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    Huyen Trang Dang

    Huyen Trang Dang works as a Creative Manager in an international shoe company. Her core competencies are social media marketing and brand building. Even though Dang is a graduate in Business Economics; she has been working as a Social Media ... [ Read more ]